Humidifier.



PETER A. FAIR., OF HELENA, MONTANA.

. HUMIDIFIER.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

Application filed May 22, 19141. Serial No. 840,292.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, PETER A. FAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Helena, in the county of Lewis and Clark and State of ltlfontana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Humidifiers, of which the following is a specification.

rlhe invention proposes to effect an improvement in the humidifying elements of humidors, whereby a satisfactory self feeding device may be provided at a low cost.

lt is an important object to provide a device of this character especially adapted to serve as a partition in such a device as that shown in my copending application Serial 817,789, but which may also be utilized as a side or lining element in various forms of humidors.

1t is also an object to give an improved absorbent element by which water is dis tributed and eXposed for diffusion through the air of a humidor.

l'n prior absorbent elements great difliculty has been experienced in securing com plete distribution of water throughout the body of the absorbent element after it has been used for a time. The capillary circulation is efliciently maintained in my device over a very long period.

A further object is to reduce the number of parts required in the device to enable the renewal of water and cleaning of the absorbent element.

An important aim of the invention is to provide a device which may be incorporated in various forms of boxes to convert them into humidors, without requiring special construction.

Additional objects and advantages will appear, some of which will be apparent from the following description, and from the drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side view of my humidifier. Fig. 2 is a top view thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the top removed. Fig. 4 is a detail of the absorbent element. Fig. 5 shows a top view of the device in a humidor. Fig. 6 illustrates the use of the device as a partition. Fig. 7 is a cross section of the device.

There is illustrated a receptacle and wall element combined, comprising an outer side 10, an inner side 11 spaced in practice about one half an inch apart, or less, being connected by the bottom plate 12 and ends 13 formed in any desired manner from material similar to that of the sides, sheet Zinc or copper being ordinarily employed. Somewhat nearer one end than the other' a partition 14 is secured between the sides 10 and 11, stopping short of the upper edges of the sides, a watertight junction being made between the partition, the sides and the bottom. rlhe longer part of the side 11 on one side of the partition is provided with a multiplicity of apertures 15, and a lid element 16 is also provided, which may be foraminate also throughout its length. The shorter space between the partition and one end 13 is filled with water when in use.

An absorbent element 17 is provided, comprising a body portion 18, corresponding in form to the space 19 immediately behind the foraminate portion of the side 11 of the device, and an integral extension 20 connected to the body 18 at its upper edge, adapted to be projected into the water space 21 at the opposite end of the device. rlhe extension 2O may be termed a wick element while the body 1S may be designated the distributer.

lt is a great advantage of this construction that no special wick mounting or connections are required, for the conduct of water from the wick to the dstributer. Neither do special separate devices have to be employed for the performance of their functions. j

Another advantage lies in the simplicity and ease of formation of the wick and distributer, it being only necessary to obtain a rectangular sheet ofthe necessary material corresponding to the size of the wick and distributer combined, and cut a slit 22 transversely of its lesser dimension beginning at one edge and stopping short at the other opposite. l have discovered that asbestos sheeting forms a highly eflicient material for this purpose, liable in a minimum degree to deterioration in capillary action and having the further advantage that it will notl decay.

By forming a small groove at opposite sides of a container my humidifier may be easily mounted in a safe manner, as suggested in Fig. 6, where the grooves are so formed that the device is virtually a partition separating the cigar compartment from the space for pipes and tobacco.

It is an advantage of the device that when mounted at one side of the humidor it will itself protectthe adjacent side of kthe'humidor from excessive rnoisture Without requiring a special lining.

By omitting the perforations in the lid over the Water receptacle, and snugly fitting the lid, liability of spilling of water from 2. In a device of the class described, a container, a transverse partition therein stopping short of the access side, a rectangular absorbent sheet corresponding in dimension one Way to the container in the plane of the partition, said sheet having a slit eut therein in the direction of said dimension extending from one edge but stopping short of the opposite edge, said sheet being disposed in the container, the partition being engaged in the slit, and a closure for the container.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

PETER A. FAIR.

THEO BLACKsToNn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

